Pregnancy-related death disparities in non-Hispanic Black women

While the rate of pregnancy-related death steadily increases in the United States, this tragic outcome is disproportionately devastating US-born non-Hispanic Black women at a rate that is three to four times that of their White and non-Black Hispanic counterparts. These disparities persist despite controlling for variables such as socioeconomic status, education levels, and geographical location. Pregnancy-related deaths in Black women are largely cardiovascular in etiology, and while these complications also occur in women of other ethnic backgrounds, they often are more severe and more deadly in Black women. This population often lacks adequate prenatal care likely because they face personal and structural barriers. Reversal of barriers during the prenatal period, the implementation of medical protocols during delivery, and the assurance of close follow-up during the postpartum year are vital in improving outcomes. This article will detail seven specific concerns within perinatal care and pregnancy-related death, and offer potential solutions to addressing them. Pregnancy-related death in Black women is not as an isolated event, but rather is one adverse outcome that exists on a broad spectrum of adverse outcomes. Now is the time to reckon with the reality that our nation’s Black women are dying at a disproportionate rate compared to women of other ethnicities due to pregnancy-related complications and suffering lifelong consequences even if they escape this fatal outcome. This is a call to action to understand this deeply devastating, multi-factorial issue so we may strive to eliminate this highly preventable and tragic event altogether.